Dear Chaser

Chapter 3: Skateboarding Boy

Dropping out of physics did only little to ease up the stress I felt these past few weeks.

I couldn't help but think about him and miss his face.

Only positive thing is that I wouldn't have to deal with the anxiety and pressure that I had to endure with other equally rigorous classes I'm taking.

However, I'll have to take the class again at some point since it's a critical tracking course required for comp sci.

Perhaps next fall or spring.

After the weekend Lisa got her drop approved for physics by her academic advisor, Jake was there in physics class early in the morning. He had grown accustomed to seeing her as one of the first students to step into the room, her dedication to the subject evident in her punctuality. As the minutes ticked by and the class start time approached, Jake found himself glancing at the door, expecting Lisa to walk in at any moment. When she still hadn't arrived close to the start of the lecture, worry crept into Jake's thoughts. His friend Peter noticed the worried look on his face.

Peter glanced over at Jake, concern visible on his face. "Are you okay, my man?" he asked, his voice with genuine worry. 

Jake's gaze drifted toward the empty seat. "The early bird girl isn't here today," he said, a hint of unease in his tone.

Peter shrugged, trying to offer some reassurance. "She could probably be sick. Who knows?"

Jake shook his head, a frown deepening on his brow. "It's strange. She doesn't seem like the type to get sick easily. She's always so resilient."

Peter nodded thoughtfully. "Well, we've got a lab this afternoon at three. Maybe she'll show up then. It's required, after all. Attendance counts, and she'd get a zero if she doesn't come."

Jake sighed. "I guess you're right."

"Don't dwell on it too much," Peter advised, trying to ease Jake's worry. "I'm sure she'll be here for the lab."

Her unexpected absence raised questions, and he hoped that she was okay, but he had doubts about her coming back to physics.

Jake wondered, "Is it possible she might have dropped out?" 

He also thought, "Because the exam averages were quite low...But I still wanna know how she is even if she doesn't come back."

At the same time in the quiet solitude of the library, Lisa focused on her studies, diligently working on assignments for her other classes. The academic challenges she faced required her full attention, and the absence from the physics class helped her finish her other classwork faster.

Lisa sighed to herself with relief as she glanced at the clock. "I'm glad Hardin has classes around this time. 'Cause he's a headache when he doesn't. Now I have alone time and space for myself Let's see if I can get this calc lecture quiz done by today even though it's due 2 days later."

Her concentration on her calculus homework was interrupted by the notification of a text message from Hardin. With a sigh, she reluctantly unlocked her phone to read his message that said, "Hey babe, finished class early. Let's go somewhere for fun."

A frown creased her forehead as she wondered, "How the heck did he finish early?" She knew his economics professor had a habit of keeping students in class for an extra ten minutes.

The argument they had recently, coupled with the ongoing strain in their relationship, weighed heavily on her. Lisa hesitated, the thought of a conversation with Hardin potentially stirring more conflict and emotional turmoil.